Discover VESTI: The YAKAN Weaves

Yakan weaves are given as gifts for important occasions, as peace offerings during times of conflict, or bartered in trade for daily necessities.

Woven using body-tension backstrap looms, the textiles feature colorful and elaborate geometric designs and patterns that draw their inspiration from nature. This includes the bunga sama (based on the diamond), the sinaluan (small bands of bisected and quartered lozenges shapes), the pussuk labbung (saw-tooth pattern) and the kabban budi (triangular-rectangular design). The Yakan tapestry may reveal a combination of rice grains, mountains, flowers, and dragons.

While originally hailing from Basilan, the Yakan tribe have migrated outwardly to Zamboanga due to unrest and conflict. They embody a non-materialistic culture and live in close-knit communities.

We at VESTI, we try to incorporate and collaborate with the different Yakan weavers to maximize creativity in patterns, colors, and for the application of the weaves. We highly respect the work that goes into the weaving of these colorful fabrics thus we use it in our signature styles combined with top grain leather and high quality trims to elevate the Yakan fabrics.